Whether you’re building a new garage at your home, or you’re looking to update your old garage doors, you have many options to choose from. Each door type comes with its own benefits and drawbacks. Let’s review the most popular garage door types to help you better determine the right one for your home.
The 4 Main Types of Doors
One of the first things you’re going to notice when you start looking at doors is they come in many different styles and materials. However, before we discuss those features, it’s important to understand the specific type of garage door that you want to have. Four main types are available.
Swing-Up
Swing-up garage doors move in one swift motion. The garage door is typically a slab style with a clean appearance. As the door opens, it will either swing up so that it acts as an overhang for the outside of your garage, or it will swing up and into the ceiling space of your garage. Swing-up garage doors are most appealing for homes with a contemporary or mid-century style.
Roll-Up
By far, the most common garage door throughout the country is the roll-up. These doors use a series of panels that roll up and down a track that gets positioned along the ceiling of your garage. With a simple click of your garage door opener, the door will start to open upward and hinge each section to allow for full arching into the garage. This is a great option to help move your door into a position where it’s out of the way when you want your garage to remain open.
Slide
Some older homes have barn-style doors. While some of these doors can be automated, the majority are not. Rather, they must be manually opened by pulling the door completely to one side so it’s out of the way. Slide garage doors are ideal for complementing historic homes.
Swing-Out
Just as the name implies, swing-out garage doors hinge outward to allow the doors to sit vertically over your driveway. Swing-out doors can consist of one slab door or two individual doors that swing out in opposite directions. Most of these doors are manually operated, so they’re not desirable for many homeowners. However, newer versions are coming out that offer automated opening for both sides.
Popular Door Materials
One of the best features of garage doors is that they’re available in a wide variety of materials. Some materials are better suited for particular areas of the country like those with coastal climates. It can be helpful to understand the pros and cons of each door material so that you can choose the right one for your home.
Steel
One of the most popular garage door materials is steel. It comes at a low cost and is highly durable. This is a low-maintenance material that can come in a variety of styling offerings to match the overall aesthetics of your home’s exterior. These doors can even be integrated with insulation to help provide a more comfortable environment for your garage throughout the year. However, note that steel is more susceptible to corrosion and shouldn’t be used in a coastal climate unless it has a special corrosion-resistant coating put on it.
Wood
If you’re concerned about projecting a more prominent curb appeal, then you may want to consider wooden garage doors. These offer a unique aesthetic but come at a much higher up-front cost. You can get them in many different styles and designs depending on your individual preferences. The beauty of wood is that it’s extremely resistant to normal wear and tear, like dents and scuffs. This eco-friendly material has natural insulation abilities. However, unless it’s given the right top coat and continually maintained, it can undergo warping in coastal regions due to excessive sun exposure and salty water.
Fiberglass
While fiberglass is not a common garage door material, it’s best for beachfront properties that deal with salty corrosion and excessive sun exposure. Fiberglass is a lightweight material that doesn’t put a lot of strain on your garage door lifting components. It is durable and provides a high level of insulation, though. Fiberglass is one of the cheapest materials on the market today and comes in a variety of different styles and colors.
Aluminum
Another popular choice for garage doors is aluminum, and this is due to its lightweight and low maintenance attributes. it is a strong material that’s long-lasting and highly resistant to corrosion, making it the ideal material for coastal salty climates. Because this material is lightweight, it’s easier to install and requires less beefy garage opener components like springs, cables, and tracks. Unfortunately, aluminum is more susceptible to denting than other types of materials on the market today.
Vinyl
One garage door material that’s gained a lot of popularity is vinyl. It is a fairly durable material that is highly resistant to impact damage. Vinyl is particularly popular in coastal regions because it has anti-corrosive properties and won’t warp or rot in humid climates. It is easy to maintain and doesn’t require any refinishing or repainting to stay in good condition. It also provides a sleek and clean look that can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home at an affordable price.
Common Style Offerings
Once you decide on the type of garage door you want and its material, it’s time to figure out the style that you prefer. By far, the most popular style of garage door today is the traditional one with symmetrical raised rectangular panels that help to provide some dimensional look to an otherwise flat surface. Raised panel doors can come with varying numbers of panels, like 6 or 12, depending on your individual preferences. If you don’t particularly like the raised panels, you can go with the recessed panel look that’s set up a similar way.
If you’re looking for a more distinctive style of door, consider the carriage-house style. These are also referred to as barn-style garage doors because they promote a distinctive rustic look. These doors have glass panes at the top to allow natural sunlight in as well as distinctive vertical sections that project a pull-out garage door look. Most carriage-style doors are constructed of wood or wood composite to provide that natural rustic charm. However, other materials like vinyl are starting to be used to create this unique style. The benefit is that you can enjoy all the advantages that come with vinyl while still getting that beautiful wood look.
Reliable Garage Door Installation Service
Door Pro America offers reliable garage door installation services in Gainesville, VA and many other locations throughout the country. Our garage door experts can help with all your spring replacement, repair, tune-up, and garage door opener needs.
Contact our friendly staff at Door Pro America today to meet with us and discuss what we can do for you and find out what style and type of garage door is right for you!
